The Industrial Stormwater General Permit
The Department of Ecology implements the Federal Clean Water Act, because of this federal law Ecology’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit is required for certain facilities conducting industrial activities. The goal of the permit is to reduce or eliminate stormwater pollution and other impacts to surface waters from industrial facilities.
Industrial facilities conduct certain activities that are often exposed to the weather. Rain runoff or snowmelt can then come into contact with these activities and it can pick up pollutants, which are then transported into local sewer systems or directly into bodies of water. This alters the water’s quality impacting humans, fish and other wildlife.
This guide summarizes the requirements of the Industrial Stormwater General Permit:
- What industrial facilities are required to obtain permit coverage.
- How to apply for permit coverage.
- What the permit requires facility owners/operators to do to comply with the permit.
Throughout this publication there are links to useful forms, such as an application for permit coverage, notice of termination, “no exposure” exemption, and more. For more details on the permit, please read the newly modified permit. A copy is available from the Department of Ecology or on Ecology’s website at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/industrial